One of the most significant changes between the 2014 U.S. Olympic team and the 2016 U.S. World Cup team may end up being Blake Wheeler's role.

Wheeler was a bubble player in 2014, earning one of the final spots in the roster. Based on how he has performed in the early going this season, the Winnipeg Jets speedster is USA’s No. 2 right wing behind Chicago’s Patrick Kane.

“Wheeler has become a major power forward in the league,” NBC analyst Pierre McGuire said. “He’s got outstanding speed and athletic ability.”

Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi is USA’s GM for the World Cup, and he has picked Paul Holmgren and Brian Burke to assist him in the selection. All three of those men are known to favor bigger, stronger teams.

“(Wheeler) is one of the best athletes in the NHL,” McGuire said. “His board play and ability to get to the net makes him a true offensive force.”

Wheeler has scored 54 goals over the past two full seasons, and with eight goals is on a 40-goal pace this season. He’s 29, but it feels as if he is just entering his prime.

“The kid is a late bloomer,” said his agent, Matt Keator. “I still think he is figuring out how to use his size and speed to his advantage on a consistent basis. You could see over the past two seasons his game just turning the corner.”

With Wheeler blossoming into one of America’s top scorers, the question becomes: Where does right wing Phil Kessel (Pittsburgh Penguins) fit into the American schematic? He’s also a speed guy and he’s among the country’s more dynamic players.

Kessel, who has six goals, has averaged 30 goals per season over the past six seasons. He’s a potential game-breaker, but he doesn’t offer a team size, grit or a physical presence.

Will USA put together a hybrid third line that includes a physical, skilled center such as Ryan Kesler or David Backes playing with Kessel? Is there any chance that Kessel doesn’t make the team? The first impulse is to say, "Of course not." But the reality is that the Americans have plenty of scoring wingers, some of whom do more than score. Kessel is vulnerable in a similar way many top Canadian forwards are not locks to make their team.

One of the questions that has to be answered before making any decisions: Where will Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks) play? He can play all three forward positions.

Here are other players whose early play has helped their cause to make the team:

Center Brandon Dubinsky (Columbus Blue Jackets): He looks intriguing because of his versatility and his ability to play a match-up role. He was in the mix to play in Sochi, but his skill set seems far more attractive playing on an NHL-sized rink.

It helps his cause that his Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella is also USA’s coach. Dubinsky seems like he could be a perfect fit for an All-Star team because he would be comfortable playing a fourth-line checking role. He can be defensive-minded, and contribute offensively.

"He's a shutdown player with an engine that never shuts down," McGuire said.

Although Dubinsky is currently out with an elbow injury, he has 11 points in 16 games.

Left wing Justin Abdelkader (Detroit Red Wings): He’s 6-2, 220 pounds and plays in the top-six forwards. He’s another top six forward who would be very comfortable playing a fourth-line grinder role.

He would become even more valuable in a physical game against Canada. He reached the 20-goal mark for the first time last season, and he should get there again this season.

Given the American management team's desire for size, it would seem logical that either Abdelkader or 6-3 Chris Kreider (New York Rangers) will make the team.

Goalie Cory Schneider (New Jersey Devils): Schneider has been highly impressive this season with his 1.98 goals-against average and.928 save percentage. If the World Cup were tomorrow, he would be on the U.S. team. But don’t think for a minute that he has moved ahead of Jonathan Quick (Kings) in terms of being the likely starting goalie.

Center Tyler Johnson (Lightning): Johnson isn’t producing (three goals, 10 points) at the same level he did last season, but he showed enough in the postseason to be penciled in to be one of the team’s top two centers

The center spot is America’s weakest position, at least until Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin and Auston Matthews have 150 NHL games under their belt.

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Nov. 29: Florida Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell scored the game-tying goal in the third period and the game-winner in OT to put the Panthers past the Red Wings 2-1.
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Nov. 28: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin scored two goals to rally the Penguins from an early 2-0 hole and force extra time against the Edmonton Oilers. The Penguins lost 3-2 in the shootout.
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Nov. 21: San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau tallied an assist to reach 1,000 career points in a 3-1 Sharks win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marleau is the 83rd player in NHL history to reach the milestone.
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Nov. 17: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin tallied two goals and added two assists in a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. The four-point performance came after Malkin called out his team for recent lifeless performances.
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Nov. 15: Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane scored a goal and an assist to extend his goal-per-game streak to seven games and help the Blackhawks top the Flames 4-1.
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Nov. 4: Even though Alexander Steen scored twice, Vladimir Tarasenko takes the star with the game-winning goal in overtime, plus an assist. The St. Louis Blues beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-5 after trailing 5-2 in the first period.
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